An interesting area to catch Conrail action was at CP King the location where the Norristown Connecting Track (from Abrams Yard and the ex-Reading Mainline, the Dale Secondary and the Morrisville lines all join together.
- Nov. 29, 1999 - The first photo is an eastbound PIML (Pittsburgh, Pa to Metuchen-Linden, NJ where at the time GM and Ford had assembly plants). The PIML has come up the Connector from the Main Line and is now on the Morrisville single track Main. The track to the left is a PECO siding where they receive poles for power lines. The track behind the PIML is the Plymouth Controlled Siding, the empty space between the tracks was the former PRR Earnest Yard. Not visible extending straight back behind the train is the Dale Secondary that was the PRR Trenton Cut-off that bypassed the congested Philadelphia area, joining the PRR Mainline (now Amtrak’s Harrisburg Line) at an interlocking CP Dale. The Morrisville Line ahead of PIML was the Trenton Cut-off, all of which was in PRR days double track and electrified, which ends at the former PRR Morrisville Yard, The line continues on to join Amtrak’s NE Corridor. PIML will utilize the NE Corridor to reach the yards at Metuchen-Linden. The power is led by PRR 8092, CN 9481 and PRR 8207
- Nov. 9, 1999 Looking the other way at CP King, which is located in Plymouth, PA, we have an Abrams local WPAB-24with NS 9137 & NS 9228 with a string of “Chassis Rack” flats behind the engines. These cars were specially equipped to handle automobile and truck chassis. These are returning empty from Metuchen-Linden probably to Reading, PA, where there was a chassis manufacturer. My notes indicate that this train had been sitting here in Plymouth Siding. WPAB-24 would be a dog-catch crew bringing in a LMPI that that had outlawed the day before.
- Looking west at CP King in this very cluttered view, you will see the LMPI turning onto the Norristown Connector, on the right there is a line of PRR Catenary support poles marching straight ahead along what was the former Trenton Cut-off, now Dale Secondary. The main track is on the right another siding on the left. I don’t believe the siding had a name and I believe it is hand throw switches. It looks a little odd but behind the Chassis Rack flats are two covered hoppers in what was an auto distribution yard, but at that time used for trans-loading plastic pellets to trucks.
4. Nov. 29, 1999 - Royersford, PA - With much more colorful foliage than this year an eastbound train, whose full symbol I didn’t catch is heading for Camden, Pavonia Yard. NS9202 and PRR 6803 are pulling.
5. A close up going away shot under the canopy of the Royersford station.
6. On the same day at Abrams Yard, King of Prussia, PA are two engines from a batch of locomotives from GE and assembled by NS, NS 9290 released in primer paint and NS 9200 in full horsehead paint. Eastbound on the westbound runner, indicating it will head over to the Morrisville Line, probably another PIML.
